Koehler Ghost Town

One of the remaining ghost towns at Vermejo Park Ranch is an old coal mining town called Koehler.

Koehler was a booming coal mining town, tapping the massive coal deposits underneath large portions of Vermejo. The town operated off and on from 1907 to 1957, and now lies abandoned – decaying slowly.

Parts of Koehler remain standing today. Some buildings and facilities are impressively massive, and others oddly beautiful. One of my favorites are a row of old houses for plant workers painted in bright yet faded colors. Light streams in through peeled roofs and open doors and windows to lovely, surreal effect.